Because we don’t use our kitchen island much, meaning some cat has always been up there in the way, and because we don’t want to ingest even MORE cat fur into our systems (surely part of our DNA by now), we prepare food on another counter top and keep cats at bay by providing a box, with crinkle paper, on the island. This has been the norm around here for years. What? You don’t have a cat on your counters? Say it ain’t so!
Tessa had always claimed the island hers, but when independent Viola grew big enough, she took over the island box and that was that. Recently, Mom decided two cats, the two cats who do not like each other, could, perhaps, finally bond over the island spot if there were TWO boxes up there. Sounds reasonable, right? So, the experiment began.
We brought in the second box and added crinkle paper taken from the first box. Viola doesn’t think any of this is a good idea.
We re-positioned the boxes, turning them this way and that until Viola showed some interest. (Note faint pre-existing semi-circular spot on Viola’s box. This will be important later.)
Finally, Viola settled into the second box. But that wasn’t the experiment. Mom wanted both boxes filled with cat.
Across the room, Tessa wanted no part of any experiment. She claimed her own box, one that’s a little bit of a tight fit, but hers alone. Still, if you’ve been paying attention, Tessa does have a healthy amount of curiosity . . .
. . . and eventually, she heard the boxes calling her name.
And answered with her own calling. Tessa didn’t mark this box, though it looks like it. This is the reason for pointing out the pre-existing spot because if we hadn’t known it was there, it sure would look like Tessa was letting her displeasure known! But that’s Mom. Always getting that photo that looks like someone named Tessa is peeing on something.
Before long, Tessa decided the box experiment wasn’t worth her while and Viola returned to her original box. No amount of positioning or changing things up could get those two up there together, so, defeated, Mom called this experiment a failure. But she did get some good photos and is looking forward to finding the next experiment!
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A Colehaus Cats flashback:
2019 – Viola, Ball of Niblet
2018 – No post
2017 – No post
2016 – No post
2015 – The Many Faces of Viola
2014 – No post
2013 – Kissing Wars – A New Battle!
2012 – No post
You never know–they could still use the boxes. Cats are allowed to change their minds. 🙂
OMG, I would have done the same experiment, then started trying different sized boxes, boxes with tall sides, short sides, ooh…the cats would have ignored it all, just because I was acting like a crazy purrson!
Now we want boxes on our kitchen island!
Maybe they will try them in the middle of the night when nobody will know.
It was very clever thinking regardless!
I could go for that, really, it’s a wonderful idea!
That was a fun experiment Penny is our resident box pee-er.
That’s why they’re experiments. You always learn something!
What a fun experiment ! And you got many boxes ! Purrs
This was a really fun experiment that you did there. It didn’t matter how many boxes were up there. When one the ruler of the island at the time, it’s theirs at the moment. Thanks for sharing. Have a great day and maybe one day they will be both up there together.
Well, good on Mom for giving that experiment a go! 🙂 Now you know!